Tories Should Sign Non-Aggression Pact With Ukip, Say Grassroots

David Cameron should form a non-aggression pact with the United Kingdom Independence Party at the next general election amid fears the anti-EU party could cost them up to 30 seats, according to a majority of Tory grass roots activists.

A survey conducted by the Conservative Home website showed that 60% of those asked thought the prime minister should strike a deal that would stop Tory and Ukip candidates standing against each other in marginal seats.

Ukip has enjoyed a surge in the polls and according to polling firm YouGov as many as 1.4 million people who voted Conservative two years ago have transferred their allegiance to UKIP.

Dissatisfaction with Cameron's approach to the EU was highlighted last year when 80 Tory MPs defied the government to vote in favour of a Commons motion calling for a referendum on Britain's membership.

Conservative peer Lord Vinson recently warned that he would be prepared to defect to Ukip unless the prime minister adopted a more eurosceptic tone.

“I and many others will leave the Conservative party unless we get a clear signal from Cameron because our relationship with Europe is extremely damaging and we would be better off out," he said.

The least popular idea in the survey conducted by ConHome was that the Tories enter into a pact with their current coalition partners.

Of those asked 55% thought a pact with the Lib Dems would have a negative in impact on the Tories chances of winning the net election.